Liam Delap the ‘worst striker in Chelsea history’ as fans urge club to sell striker after Brighton performance

Liam Delap has come in for heavy criticism from the Chelsea fanbase following the Blues’ 3-0 defeat at Brighton.

Delap started his second successive Premier League match in place of the injured Joao Pedro, but Chelsea were swept aside by a dominant Brighton side.

Goals from Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood, and Danny Welbeck earned Brighton all three points and left Chelsea outside the European places in the Premier League table.

Brighton leapfrogged Liam Rosenior’s side into the final European spot, and condemned the Blues to their fifth straight league defeat without scoring.

Rosenior faces increasing pressure as manager, and Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final against Leeds next is a crucial match for the 41-year-old.

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Liam Delap ‘must be sold as soon as possible’ by Chelsea

Rosenior previously managed Delap at Hull City, but he has not been able to get the best out of the 23-year-old at Stamford Bridge.

Delap has only scored one Premier League goal since joining Chelsea from Ipswich last summer, and a second goal never looked on the cards against Brighton.

Minutes Played72
Touches21
Touches In Opposition Box1
Shots0
Duels Won36%
Liam Delap’s stats for Chelsea against Brighton.

Chelsea did not have a shot on target throughout the contest, and Delap was replaced by Marc Guiu in the 72 minute.

Delap has been labelled as Chelsea’s worst ever striker following his performance, with fans stating that Nicolas Jackson is “much better” than the England international.

Jackson is currently on loan at Bayern Munich, and has scored six Bundesliga goals this season, and could leave Chelsea permanently in the summer transfer window.

Liam Rosenior hit by transfer blow

Rosenior needs to urgently arrest Chelsea’s slide down the table if the club are to qualify for any form of European football this season.

Sources have told Football Insider that Chelsea’s transfer budget will be slashed this summer, and that is partly down to the likelihood of hosting no European football at Stamford Bridge next season, and a drop in matchday and broadcast revenue.

Player sales are expected this summer, whilst the club will be looking to generate money after recording a £262million loss in their 2024-25 financial accounts.

The club could also change their transfer model and look to sign some experienced players to help Rosenior on the pitch.

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